Colonista.com

Are You at Risk for Bottom Bumps?

Yes, by bottom bumps, I mean hemorrhoids.  What puts you at risk for these annoying little things?  Check out this list that I found at WebMD.

• Obesity
• Consistent diarrhea or constipation
• Family history of hemorrhoids
• Being over the age of 50.  Another reason to celebrate getting older!
• Being pregnant
• Liver disease
• Heart disease
  

Also, keep the following in mind if you currently have hemorrhoids:

• Don’t sit around or stand for too long at one time!
• Don’t hold your breath when lifting heavy objects.

And remember to check out five ways to Soothe Hemorrhoids at Home.

 

Do I Have Hemorrhoids?

As I’ve mentioned before, there are two different types of hemorrhoids:  external and internal.  Both of these types have different symptoms.

Symptoms of external hemorrhoids include:

• Rectal pain
• Streaks of blood on your toilet paper after straining to have a bowel movement
  

Symptoms of internal hemorrhoids include:

• Rectal bleeding
• Itching
• Skin irritation
• Pain
• Discomfort

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s a good idea to see your doctor.  If you’re over 50 years old and have a family history of colon cancer, it’s imperative to see your physician to ensure that you are experiencing symptoms of hemorrhoids and not a more serious condition.

Am I Being Punished?: Why You Get Hemorrhoids

Whatever you believe, the answer is this:  no.  You are not being punished for whatever bad things you’ve done.  Unfortunately, hemorrhoids happen, even to good people.

So what causes these annoying things?

To be technical, “Hemorrhoids are usually caused by increased pressure on the veins in the pelvic and rectal area.”  Or, so WebMD says.  The pressure goes up, causing blood to pool in the veins.  This causes them to swell, which can lead to developing hemorrhoids.

Some things that can lead to these pesky hemorrhoids include:

• Consistent constipation or diarrhea
• Hurrying to finish a bowel movement
• Obesity
• Medical conditions such as long-term heart and liver disease
• Pregnancy and labor
• Pelvic tumors

Have you ever had hemorrhoids?  Share your thoughts on this nasty subject here.

Soothe Hemorrhoids at Home

Hemorrhoids suck.  They hurt.  They’re embarrassing.  And they’re just plain gross.

Thankfully, there are some home remedies that will help to ease the pain caused by these pesky swollen growths.

Here are a few tips that can help you get some relief from your unwelcome hemorrhoids:

1. Soak in a bath of warm water.  It shouldn’t be hot.  Warm water can help to ease the pain associated with hemorrhoids.

2. Sit on a pile of cushions.  This sounds silly, but it works.  Sitting for a long period of time can irritate your butt growths.  But sitting on a couple of soft cushions can definitely make sitting much more comfortable.

3. Stay mobile.  Don’t sit around all day!  Even though your poor tush hurts, it’s essential for you to get up and walk around a bit. 

4. Buy a donut.  Not one that you eat—one that you sit on.  You know that one I’m talking about.  Those silly donut-shaped cushions that you see joked about on TV.  A good, inexpensive one can be found here.

5. Don’t stay in one position for too long.  Something as easy as shifting around in your seat every few minutes can help to keep those pesky hemorrhoids from aching.

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Hemorrhoids: The Gross, Painful Truth

 We’ve all heard of them, some of us have probably had them, and we have most likely compared people we dislike to them at one time or another.  That’s right.  They’re hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels that are located in the lowest region of the rectum and anus.  There are two different types of hemorrhoids:  internal and external.

Internal hemorrhoids are located within the rectum so that you’re unable to see or feel them.  The only sign that they’re there is bleeding, which can occur during bowel movements.

External hemorrhoids are just what they sound like:  external.  They’re usually quite painful and are located within the anus. 

While hemorrhoids aren’t anything to be concerned about, you should always pay a visit to your doctor if you experience any sort of anal pain or bleeding.

There’s no certain cause for hemorrhoids, but it is known that constipation can irritate them, as can your diet.  To try to prevent the incidence of hemorrhoids, make sure that there’s a good amount of fiber in your diet.